Work requirement in place for food stamps in 8 Ky. counties

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Over 17,000 food stamp recipients in eight Kentucky counties must begin part-time work, education or volunteer activities in order to keep their benefits under a newly reinstated requirement.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the rule had been waived since March 2009 because of the recession, but the waiver expired Jan. 1 after the federal government opted not to extend it for a subset of people in some counties.

Able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 to 50 now have to document that they spend an average of 20 hours a week at a job, doing volunteer work or taking classes in order to receive the food stamps as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The rule only applies to Fayette, Jefferson, Bullitt, Daviess, Henderson, Hardin, Warren and McCracken counties.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

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